Suspended RJD, SP & LJP members create a day-long menace

NEW DELHI: Nothing short of ‘marshal law’ could tame a bunch of MPs belonging to RJD, SP and LJP, who tried every trick in the book to stall the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. It was quite a sight, as seven MPs — suspended earlier in the day for unruly behaviour and attempting to attack chairman Hamid Ansari on Monday — were physically bundled out of the House by marshals to facilitate discussion on the historic legislation.

It all started when Subhash Yadav (RJD), Sabir Ali (LJP), Veerpal Singh Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Kamal Akhtar (all SP) and Ejaz Ali (unattached) were suspended on Tuesday morning for creating unprecedented pandemonium when the bill was introduced on Monday. The MPs, however, refused to leave the House. They sat in the well of the House, leaving the exasperated Chair no option but to adjourn the House.

The dharna scene continued after lunch, forcing another adjournment until 3 pm. When the House reassembled, the suspended members stood up and started shouting slogans on the “anti-minority and anti-backward” Bill and demanded that it be withdrawn.

One of the suspended MPs tried to reach Mr Ansari but was prevented by marshalls who then formed a human wall to protect the Chair. As the slogan-shouting refused to dim, the determined Chairman called for a voice vote. However, when BJP communicated its insistence on a debate, Mr Ansari agreed and asked Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to initiate the discussion.

At this juncture, the suspended MPs intensified their slogan-shouting, forcing a visibly aghast Chairman to order their immediate eviction. A small platoon of marshalls converged in the well of the House, throwing a security ring around the Chair and the secretary-general’s desk. As the unruly MPs resisted attempts at their eviction, the marshalls literally bundled them out one by one. Ejaz Ali, Sabir Ali, Veerpal Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Subhash Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Ejaz Ali were carried out, with 4-5 marshalls overpowering them and lifting them by their arms and legs.

The treasury and opposition benches looked on, though some muffled cheers were heard as the suspended members were bodily lifted out.

SP’s Kamal Akhtar, leader for the anti-Women’s Bill brigade, was also the longest stayer in the melee. He ensured a dramatic end. He stood on the benches as the marshalls approached and resumed shouting slogans. He later called for a glass of water, complaining of a dry throat due to all the slogan-shouting. The glass was brought in; Mr Akhtar drank the water and before anyone could realise, smashed it on the desk behind him. The members at the desk moved away. One of them was also believed to have got hurt by the shards. The marshalls then swooped on him and carried him out.

Outside Parliament, the seven suspended members remained unapologetic about their unruly behaviour and said the action against them showed the “arrival of unannounced Emergency in the country.”

“The incident rings a danger bell for democracy. This is complete dictatorship. Now the government can pass any bill in both Houses by marshalling out dissenting members,” Ejaz Ali, an unattached member, told reporters after being removed from the Rajya Sabha.

SP member Veerpal Singh Yadav alleged that the “Congress leaders are behaving in a similar way as they used to during the Emergency.” He alleged that the marshalls’ dragging act left injuries on their hands and legs.

Subhash Prasad Yadav of RJD, who is also brother-in-law of Lalu Prasad, alleged that 100 marshals were used to “throw out” the seven members and vowed to “teach them (Congress) a lesson in coming elections. There is no point in remaining in this House. We may resign after talking to our leader,” he added.

Kamal Akhtar termed the incident as a “murder of democracy” and accused BJP and Congress of depriving the majority of women in the country with reservation benefits by supporting the bill in its present form. Asked whether he tried to injure himself with a broken glass in the House, Akhtar said he had earlier said the bill would be passed only after his death. “Had they not stopped me...” he left the sentence hanging.